Merex Group Names New CEO

Merex Group, a Dubin Clark portfolio company, has named Christopher R. Celtruda as its new CEO. Merex is based in Camarillo, Calif., and is a provider of defense platforms.

PRESS RELEASE

CAMARILLO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Merex, a Dubin Clark Portfolio Company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Christopher R. Celtruda to the role of Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Celtruda will be responsible for the Merex Group of businesses headquartered in Camarillo, California, including the recently acquired ALCO aircraft equipment repair and overhaul business located in Livermore, California. He succeeds President and CEO Andy Shams, who will act as Chairman of the Board and continue to serve in a business growth role.

“Total Support“ approach of providing spares/components, repair/overhaul management, and project management of systems upgrades has been instrumental in the company’s success in this growing market. The Merex Group is headquartered in Camarillo, California, and is a Dubin Clark Portfolio Company. Further information is available at www.merexinc.com.”

Celtruda has over 20 years of experience managing complex businesses in the aerospace, defense and industrial markets. He is an accomplished leader with expertise in business and operations leadership, engineering, M&A, restructuring, and business development.

He was most recently engaged as Managing Principal at Destiny Equity Partners, LLC providing advisory services to public and private equity backed firms for strategy, business management, transactional M&A and investment in manufacturing enterprises.Celtruda served as President and Corporate Officer for the $1.2 Billion Gardner Denver (NYSE:GDI) Industrial Products business unit. Prior to joining Gardner Denver, Celtruda was the Group Executive and Corporate Officer who led the formation of the global CIRCOR Aerospace division of CIRCOR International (NYSE:CIR) through acquisitions of a number of companies recognized for their proprietary technology in fluid control, landing gear systems and electro-mechanical control. During his tenure as the CIRCOR Aerospace Group Vice President, he deployed strategies for growth through strategic acquisitions and new product development as well as profit expansion through lean manufacturing, business consolidation and leverage of a global, low cost supply chain. He led the executive team to the successful closing of six acquisitions and the awarding of significant new program wins on the Airbus A350 and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Celtruda spent more than 12 years in a variety of roles of increasing responsibility in the aerospace market vertical with Honeywell International (NYSE:HON) and the former AlliedSignal. These assignments included Operating Director for the $600M Engine Systems business unit and General Manager for the $250M Honeywell Aerospace Fuel Systems. He also held a variety of roles with the former AlliedSignal Aerospace in product management, factory repositioning, operations, sales and new product development.
Celtruda began his career with the General Dynamics Corporation and is a Six Sigma Black Belt. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maine and an M.B.A. from the W.P. Carey School of Business at the Arizona State University, with studies in International Management at Ecole Superieure de Commerce in Toulouse, France.
He is a life member of each of the following: the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), the United States Air Force Association (AFA) and the United States Naval League.
He is also a member of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT), National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and the Los Angeles Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG).
“Chris hails from a long history of high profile roles for key defense and aerospace entities where he has successfully led executive teams in achieving strong organic growth objectives. His wealth of experience and new perspective make Chris well suited to forge a similar growth path for Merex. He is the right person at the right time. I look forward, as Chairman, to assisting Chris in realizing our goal of becoming the industry leader in international legacy platform support,” offered Andy Shams, Merex Group Chairman.About Merex:
The Merex Group is a global provider of comprehensive support for U.S. manufactured legacy defense platforms including aircraft, helicopters and their respective engines. Supporting more than 35 armed forces worldwide that operate legacy defense platforms, Merex’s “Total Support“ approach of providing spares/components, repair/overhaul management, and project management of systems upgrades has been instrumental in the company’s success in this growing market. The Merex Group is headquartered in Camarillo, California, and is a Dubin Clark Portfolio Company. Further information is available at www.merexinc.com.About ALCO:
ALCO operates as a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility for servicing auxiliary power units (APUs), engine driven compressors (EDCs) as well as a variety of other components for hydraulic, pneumatic, fuel and electrical systems. ALCO supports military aircraft including: C-130, P-3, F-18, F-16 and F-15 as well as commercial aircraft including: 737, 757 and 767. ALCO currently maintains FAA Open Class I, II, III, Accessory and Limited Instruments Ratings. Further information is available at www.alco.aero.About Dubin Clark & Company:
Dubin Clark & Company is a private equity investment firm founded in 1984 exclusively on purchasing and cultivating businesses into profitable enterprises, all the time working alongside the businesses’ preexisting management. The organization has a philosophy of “Maintaining each company’s values, independence and culture; our goal is to build on what has already been achieved.” Further information is available at www.dubinclark.com.